Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Shu, Loyal Officials of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 272: The strategy for eliminating Cao Cao has been taught to you; whether you can become the King of Han is another matter.
Liu Yao held the imperial edict and looked at Liu Bei with a dignified and righteous expression.

"The imperial edict is here. As the emperor's uncle, Xuande, now that the Han dynasty is in decline and the emperor is in distress, how can we, the relatives of the Han dynasty, not devote ourselves to saving the country?"

How can we explain Yao's true intentions?

Liu Bei was pressured by Liu Yao with the concept of righteousness, and he couldn't very well refute it. He couldn't very well say that he didn't want to support the Han dynasty and save the country, could he?
This is bad. Who would have thought that Liu Yao, that old fox, was so wicked, hiding the imperial edict to test me?
Since you have an imperial edict, just get straight to the point and let me obey the edict to suppress the rebels. How could I possibly refuse?
[What are He Yanyao's true intentions!]

Seeing Liu Yao's persistent questioning, Liu Bei knew that he wanted to use this to control him and take the lead in the conversation.

If that's the case, I'm afraid not only I, but also my Western Garden Army, will be at the mercy of others in the upcoming campaign to eliminate Cao Cao.

But now that those words have already been spoken, how can I make amends?

After a moment's hesitation, Liu Bei had already made up his mind and replied:
"I fear that the Grand Tutor is treacherous. His true intention is to test Liu Bei, not to eliminate Cao Cao."

Liu Yao: "."

Seeing that Liu Bei was not falling for the trap, Liu Yao stopped trying to explain and took out the imperial edict from his belt to examine it.

"Today, the Emperor's edict, written in blood and worn on his belt, is here; how could it be fake?"

Liu Bei took the imperial edict and read it. Seeing the emperor's tearful words, he was filled with grief and indignation.

"I am unaware that Your Majesty has been so cruelly abused by the traitor Cao. As a subject, if I cannot save my lord from this calamity, how can I have the face to live on in this world?"

As he spoke, he hurriedly asked Liu Yao, "Now that the Grand Tutor has arrived, do you have a good plan to eliminate Cao Cao?"

Liu Yao then turned the edict over and showed it to Liu Bei. He saw that there were more than a hundred names on it.
The list is as follows: 1. Grand Tutor Liu Yao; 2. Marquis of Duting, Prince Zifu; 3. Lieutenant General Zhong Ji; 4. Gentleman of the Palace Wu Shuo; 5. General of Zhaoxin Wu Zilan; 6. General of Chariots and Cavalry Dong Cheng; 7. Commander of the Imperial Guards Xu Huang.
Looking at the densely packed names, numbering in the hundreds, Liu Bei was dumbfounded!
No, this
It's all over!

If this thing of yours could actually succeed, it would be a miracle.

The saying goes, "If secrets are not kept, they will lead to disaster." Who would secretly plot to eliminate Cao Cao and recruit hundreds of people to join them?
Even if there is even one person among them with impure thoughts and ulterior motives, wouldn't the great cause of restoring the Han dynasty perish in your hands?

Moreover, this edict is blatant evidence. If it falls into Cao Cao's hands, he can use it to search for clues, and the loyal and righteous people of the dynasty will be destroyed in an instant.
Seeing that Liu Bei was hesitant to put pen to paper, Liu Yao frowned and urged him on.

"Now that we have been ordered to punish the traitors and rescue the Emperor from danger, Xuande, are you unwilling to serve us like dogs and horses and restore the Han Dynasty?"

Liu Bei: "."

Can I say no? Aren't you just ripping people off?
"Why do you say such things, Grand Tutor? To restore the Han Dynasty is my lifelong wish. If I do it today, how can I refuse?"

"If that's the case, then please provide the title."

Knowing he couldn't avoid it, Liu Bei sighed deeply. His only consolation was that although Liu Yao's method was treacherous, at least it gathered a lot of power.

If we can launch a sudden attack, we might be able to eliminate Cao Cao in one fell swoop and accomplish our goal in one battle.

He then wrote: "[General Liu Bei]".

After signing and affixing his seal, and receiving the document from Fu Yao, Liu Bei inquired about it.

"But I wonder what plan the Grand Tutor intends to use to eliminate Cao? Although I am not talented, I can still take a look and fill in the gaps."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yao paused, wondering what plan he could possibly have. He was still waiting for Yuan San to come and tell him the next step.

However, he remained outwardly calm and smiled with satisfaction at Liu Bei.

"Shang Rongyao went to invite Liu Jingsheng again. With the help of his Jingzhou troops, the plan to eliminate Cao Cao can be accomplished."

"When everyone gathers at my residence, we will discuss our plans further. Revealing them now might lead to a leak."

Liu Bei nodded. "Reliable!"
It seems that this Grand Tutor Liu wasn't just a complete schemer. He actually knew that there were hundreds of people listed in the secret. Since the secret was not kept and the news was easy to leak, he deliberately suppressed his plan and only revealed it when he was about to take action.

Although this made him feel somewhat at ease, Liu Bei still offered a word of advice.

"The troops of Jingzhou are indispensable. With the help of the Grand Tutor, there is great potential for success."

But I urge the Grand Tutor to act swiftly, for I fear that delay will lead to unforeseen circumstances. If the secret is leaked and Cao Cao discovers it, then all will be lost.

Liu Yao was afraid that Liu Bei would ask too many questions and expose the truth, so he pretended to be indifferent and said, "I am not a child, how could I not know?"

Liu Bei assumed that Liu Yao felt he was being slighted, so he dared not say anything more.

Liu Yao was in a hurry to attend the next event, so he bid farewell to Liu Bei and went to Liu Biao's place.

Grand Master's Mansion.

"I have heard that the Grand Tutor has accomplished great things in his household, but he has not asked me to write a report on it."

"Is Lord Hou's prolonged absence a sign of disrespect?"

After the two men, host and guest, were seated, upon hearing Liu Biao's words, Liu Yao remained expressionless and replied:
“Brother Jingsheng, you misunderstand. It is precisely because I value you that I entrust you with this important matter at the end.”

Before this, if Yao's plot were to be leaked, then even if we die, at least we will not implicate Brother Jingsheng, thus preserving the last thread of the Han dynasty's lineage and protecting Your Majesty's last important minister.

Hearing that Liu Yao valued him so highly, Liu Biao, a renowned scholar, was very pleased and thus spoke.

"But what exactly is the matter that has prompted Grand Tutor Lao to go to such lengths, even risking his life?"

Liu Yao took out the imperial edict from his belt, held it with both hands, and said, "It is naturally a great undertaking to restore the Han Dynasty and a righteous act to save the country and eliminate the traitors."

He handed the imperial edict to Liu Biao, saying, "The fate of the nation rests on this moment; a desperate gamble is imminent!"

Brother Jingsheng, would you dare to sign your name and affix your seal, joining us in this righteous cause to save the nation and support the emperor?

When Liu Biao took the imperial edict and read it, regardless of his inner thoughts, he naturally wore a sorrowful and heartbroken expression.

"If Your Majesty would write a letter in blood, how could I not repay you with my life?"

Seeing that Liu Biao had also signed his name, Liu Yao was very satisfied.

Having learned from Liu Bei's example, he didn't wait for anyone to ask what his plan to eliminate Cao Cao was, and only left a question.

"Brother Jingsheng, please wait here for a while. I will soon gather everyone to announce the plan to eliminate Cao. At that time, we will work together with one heart and one mind, and success or failure will depend on this."

Liu Biao nodded, "I will have Wen Ping send someone to inform the army outside the city that we should launch an uprising together at any time."

As Liu Yao took his leave, no one noticed that he and a guard from the Grand Tutor's mansion locked eyes briefly before parting ways.

Not long after, Liu Yao returned to his residence. Instead of going to bed, he went straight to his study and lit a lamp to wait for him.

Sure enough, not long after, a servant announced that an old friend had come to visit.

Seeing Yuan San approaching slowly, Liu Yao breathed a sigh of relief and said to him:

"I have done what you asked me to do, but I don't know how to end this now."
Your master must have a good plan to get rid of Cao Cao by arranging such a grand show.

Please try to explain?

Yuan San: "."

Huh? Cao Liangce? The King of Han didn't mention it when I came! Who could have known that you could build such a big business without making a sound?

However, since things had come to this point, he certainly couldn't show it. He simply put on an air of confidence and smiled calmly.

"I have a good plan in mind, but before that, there's the matter of the imperial edict in the belt." "Let's see!"

As Liu Yao spoke, he took out the imperial edict from his belt and showed it to Yuan Sanyi.

Yuan San was overjoyed upon seeing this. The edict that the King of Han had mentioned before his departure contained fewer than ten names.

It was quite impressive; Liu Yao handed over this document, which listed more than a hundred names.

The head of the household tasted it and said: "Exceeded expectations!"
Now, all you need to do is take this imperial edict, which lists the names of a hundred people, back with you, and you will be rewarded with an immense achievement.

From this day forward, the legitimate ruler of the Han dynasty's nine provinces shall be the King of Han, and the key to governing the common people of the world shall be Shouchun.

This is the great principle governing the world, and the direction of people's hearts.

Seeing that Yuan Sanguang held the imperial edict in his belt without speaking, Liu Yao urged him on:
"The matter is settled, and Cao Cao will be eliminated in an instant. If your lord has any plans to share, why not speak them quickly?"

Upon hearing this, Yuan San frowned slightly. He knew that if he wanted to take this imperial edict back today, he would have to get past Liu Yao.

But apart from Cao Liangce, the King of Han didn't teach me either.
Wait, did they really not teach it?

Yuan San carefully recalled the instructions the King of Han had given him, and the words of advice and concern still echoed in his mind.

[You should plan the matter of the imperial edict in the belt. This edict may have been passed on to Dong Cheng by the emperor. You can then use Liu Yao to get him involved and, as the Grand Tutor, plot to seize control of this edict.]

If the Emperor does not pass it on, you should.

[There might be something to do on this journey, like discussing plums and wine.]

[This journey may involve Ji Ping's assassination attempt on Cao Cao.]

That's it!
It should be noted that when the King of Han gave him a detailed explanation of what he needed to pay attention to after arriving in Luoyang, as well as what might happen.

Although Yuan San respected him, he couldn't help but feel a little uneasy about it.

How can man speak of the future?

But when I actually arrived in Luoyang, I was suddenly shocked!

Humans might not be able to do such a thing, but the King of Han is simply not human!
He is the Yellow Heaven Responding to the Origin Manifestation True Lord, the Daoist Emperor who descended to earth!
He was ordained by Heaven, born to replace the Azure Heaven, and destined to become emperor.

Otherwise, it would be impossible to explain everything that Yuan San experienced and witnessed in Luoyang during this period, although many parts of it differed from, or even contradicted, what the King of Han said.

However, the fact that such divine methods of predicting the future could be partially accurate already astonished him.

Thinking of this, Yuan San's eyes lit up with joy. He calmly and eloquently recounted the story that the King of Han had told him to Liu Yao.

"The King of Han has a good plan to teach me, Grand Tutor, please listen carefully."

I have heard of a man named Ji Tai, courtesy name Chengping, who was a native of Luoyang. Everyone called him Ji Ping, and he was a renowned physician of his time.

Liu Yao frowned, puzzled. "This man is indeed skilled in medicine, I have heard of it, but what good is it for eliminating Cao Cao?"

"Although Ji Ping was a doctor, he always cherished a heart of loyalty and righteousness and had always aspired to revive the Han dynasty."

Grand Tutor, you may not know this, but Cao Cao often suffers from headaches that pierce to the bone. Whenever the headaches flare up, he always summons Ji Ping to treat him.

Now we only need to find Ji Ping, wait for Cao Cao to fall ill, and then use a single dose of poison to surely kill him. Why resort to arms?
If Cao Cao falls ill at that time, it will be due to the doctor's poor medical skills, and will have nothing to do with the Han Dynasty, Liu Bei, or the ministers, thus losing the greater good.

Even if the people in Cao Cao's camp were aware of this, they would be unable to unite due to a lack of righteousness. The emperor only needed to appease them slightly, causing Cao Cao's sons to fight for power among themselves.

When they fight amongst themselves, Liu Gong will then lead the righteous men on the roster to petition for the restoration of the Han dynasty and support the emperor, thus becoming the imperial tutor who will revive the Han.

Liu Yao was overjoyed upon hearing this. He never imagined that the long-standing problem of eliminating Cao Cao without causing chaos in Luoyang could be solved simply by having a doctor cause the traitor Cao Cao to die of natural illness.

Even if the people in Cao's camp become aware of this, all they need to do is have the doctor confess that he was eliminating traitors for the country out of his own volition, without anyone instructing him, and then commit suicide.

By then, even if some people had suspicions, they wouldn't know who the enemy's target was. Moreover, without Cao Cao's control and with the emperor's appeasement, they would be more interested in fighting for power and profit than in seeking revenge against the unknown killer.

Liu Yao thought it over and found it increasingly ingenious, and quickly replied:
"If that is the case, I will take control of the Han court, divide the country with the King of Han, and form an alliance between the two families, never to invade each other again."

Although he knew that it was impossible for the two sides to avoid conflict, Liu Yao felt that by making such a statement, he could show Yuan Shao weakness, lower the King of Han's guard, and buy himself more time.

However, Yuan San didn't care about this at all. The reason was that, according to the story Yuan Gong told him, it seemed that a villain had tipped off Cao Cao, so the plan would definitely not succeed.

That was when there were only six or seven names on the imperial edict; now, there are at least a hundred names on this edict.

However, Yuan San could not tell Liu Yao this directly. After all, if he knew that the plan would not succeed, and Liu Yao came to ask him for a plan to eliminate Cao Cao, what real plan would he have to teach him?

In any case, for the King of Han, Cao Cao and the Han Dynasty were both enemies!
It would be better if they fought each other and caused a great disturbance in Luoyang.

So after Yuan San obtained the imperial edict hidden in the belt, he only reminded Liu Yao of one thing:
"If the Grand Tutor intends to carry out this plan, he should be careful that someone may have ulterior motives and pass on the message to the traitor Cao."

"You should gather everyone and prepare your troops to guard against any unforeseen circumstances, lest this plan fail and Cao Cao, in his desperation, resort to desperate measures, leaving you all helpless."

Liu Yao, thinking he had found a brilliant plan, nodded repeatedly, "If secrets are not kept, disaster will result. How could I not know that?"

Seeing that he knew what was going on, Yuan San put away the imperial edict and asked Liu Yao to arrange for him to leave the city that night and return to the King of Han to report back.

Liu Yao originally intended this to be a one-time event, and never to be repeated. Seeing that the transaction between the two parties was completed smoothly, he also wanted to send Yuan San away as soon as possible to avoid any complications. Naturally, he had no suspicions.

When I get rid of Cao Cao and control the court, I will have absolute power and be able to cover the sky with one hand. Why should I fear Yuan's camp threatening me again?
The next day, night.

Liu Yao convened a meeting in his residence and addressed the assembly:
"Now that those who wish to restore the Han dynasty have gathered, the task of eliminating Cao Cao is ready to be undertaken!"
Gentlemen, you should help me prepare as soon as possible.

Everyone hurriedly asked him for a good plan to get rid of Cao Cao.
Fortunately, Liu Yao remembered Yuan San's instructions and, to avoid leaking the news, only invited four trustworthy people—Liu Bei, Liu Biao, Dong Cheng, and Xu Huang—to discuss the matter of Ji Ping.

When the others heard this, they never imagined that there was such a brilliant plan to eliminate Cao Cao without firing a single shot. They all praised Liu Yao as a wise man!

Seeing that restoring the Han Dynasty was within reach, Dong Cheng took the initiative to speak up, "I also recognize this Ji Ping; he once treated me."

"Now I can feign a serious illness and invite him to my presence to test his heart. If he is indeed a loyal and righteous man, then I will follow this plan!"

Everyone praised it.

Here, everyone made their own arrangements, preparing for how to launch an uprising and how to defend themselves after Cao Cao's death.

After Dong Cheng returned home, how he feigned illness to summon Ji Ping and tested his heart through dream talk is not mentioned.

On the other side, at the Yang residence.

Yang Biao paced back and forth in the mansion, his brow furrowed with worry, unable to sleep all night.

"Xiu'er, the commotion caused by Liu Yao in Luoyang is getting bigger and bigger."

Today, a loyal and righteous man of the Han Dynasty has secretly informed me that a great event is imminent, and the removal of Cao Cao will only take place in a few days.

Should our Yang family really not participate in such a momentous matter as restoring the Han Dynasty?

If this succeeds, and we were not involved, I fear the spoils will be redistributed, and the Yang family will have no place in the important positions of the court.”

(End of this chapter)